Friendsgiving, now a widely celebrated tradition, has grown significantly over the past three decades. If you're unfamiliar with it, Friendsgiving is simply a Thanksgiving meal shared with friends rather than family members. While it's now in the cultural zeitgeist, there's one particular TV show that helped bring the tradition into the spotlight.
There are many reasons causing the tradition’s rise in popularity, but one major influence is the well-loved NBC series "Friends." The sitcom, which ran from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, is centered around six friends — Chandler (Matthew Perry), Monica (Courteney Cox), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) — as they live and grow together in New York City.
“Friends” produced a Thanksgiving episode for almost every season of the show, giving viewers episodes to revisit each holiday season. In each one, the group ends up staying in the city for a variety of reasons and celebrating together, often leading to unforgettable chaos.
Many memorable moments from the show came from these specials, ranging from heartfelt conversations among friends to humorous, messy scenes. Despite the chaos, each episode ends with the group gathered around a meal, expressing gratitude for one another’s friendship.
While these episodes quickly became fan-favorites, “Friends” wasn’t the first piece of media to depict a Friendsgiving-like celebration. Versions of the tradition appeared earlier, including in the 1973 special “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."
More recent nods include "The Real Housewives" franchise, which put it's own spin on the concept for an episode in 2011, and the 2020 film "Friendsgiving." Still, "Friends” played a significant role in popularizing the term.
The word was officially added into the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2020 and traces the first published use of “Friendsgiving” to a Twitter in 2007, shortly after the shows ending.
But what makes the show’s interpretation of Friendsgiving so memorable and enduring? It feels real.
The characters' celebrations aren't perfect. They burnt turkey's, argued with one another while preparing Thanksgiving dinner and showed up late to the celebrations. Yet at the end of the episodes, they come together. "Friends" portrayed friendship as a true form of family, complete with traditions, conflict, support and belonging.
In honor of its growing popularity, here is a ranking of my three personal favorite "Friends" Friendsgiving episodes.
3. "The One with Chandler in the Box" (Season 4, Episode 8)
In this episode, Chandler spends the holiday locked in a wooden box to prove his dedication to Joey after kissing Joey’s girlfriend. While he’s stuck inside, the rest of the group humorously debates whether Chandler deserves forgiveness, while preparing Thanksgiving dinner.
For me, this episode is the perfect balance of real emotional stakes and humor. Chandler is stuck in an uncomfortable situation in a very funny way, but it’s all in the name of friendship. A moment that highlights the core values we love about Friendsgiving. We do a lot for the people that we trust.
2. "The One with All the Thanksgivings" (Season 5, Episode 8)
This is a flashback episode that dives into the characters’ pasts as they reminisce about their worst Thanksgivings. The story explores moments of humiliation, awkward mishaps and the lore behind some of the group’s most iconic Thanksgiving memories.
This episode captures what it truly means to have a “chosen family.” They laugh at each other and share embarrassing moments from the past, but at the end of the day they love each other through all of it. It creates a realistic representation of what it feels like to find the people where there is no judgement, just acceptance.
1. "The One with the Football" (Season 3, Episode 9)
This episode centers on the group’s spontaneous decision to play a game of tag football, a common Thanksgiving tradition for many families. The game quickly turns competitive when Ross and Monica revive their long-standing sibling rivalry. The entire group is pulled into chaos with arguments, alliances and increasing mayhem taking over.
I might be biased, but the sibling rivalry in this episode has always felt incredibly authentic and is one of my favorite moments from the show. Once the whole group gets pulled into the competition, it only gets more chaotic. Like a true Thanksgiving, it’s never complete without a little argument, and that shines through here. The episode highlights the group dynamic in a silly, physical and genuinely human way.
This holiday season, I suggest revisiting the Friendsgiving episodes of “Friends” for inspiration for your own Thanksgiving gathering with some of the people that matter most.
